The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-04-15
A New Dakota Town.

Along about 1882 and 1888, much
heard about the rapid growth of Dakota
how sprightly city would spring up
where only fortnighs before was the un.
settled prairie. These tales were received
at the time, in the East, with many grain
of allowance. 1t has been popularity sup.
posed that the time for such examples of
rapid growth had passed, and that the de.
velopment of Dakota, while going steadily
on. had assumed more even pace; but il
has been the fortune of many within the
last few days to see large town, with i'm
portant business interests, jump into being
on ground where but three or four weeks
ago bucolic Mouse River ranchman peace
fully pastured his lowing herds.
Reference is made to Minot, at the sec
ond crossing of the Mouse River, 118 miles
west from Devils Lake and 527 from ST..
Paul. The cause which has so Suddenly
brought this thriving town into being
lies in the fact that this Is the place chosen
by the st. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba
RailwayCo., for division headquarters,
and railroad communication has suddenly
opened up for settlement wide and fertile
region which, so late in the season, is al
ready attracting many settlers.
The town is building ON the south side
of the river, which here, as elsewhere is
timbered, and on the gently sloping hills
which further back make rapid ascent
to the level prairie beyond. A few days
ago. only the bare ground to-day a long
main street, lined on each side with twenty
or thirty business houses in all stages of
completion, with hastily constructed dwell.
iDgs struggling on either side. Lumber
builders, tar paper and miscellaneous
array of other building materials litter The
street, and trip up the unsuspectlng way
farer, while rasp and clatter of the saw and
hammer continues from early morn till
late at night. 1t is amusing TO see the DIES.
perate merchant to open up and be the
first to catch the golden shower. Empty
grain bags and tar paper do duty for win
dows and blankets and quilts for doors.
This is rather airy for November, building
goes steadily on, and order no doubt come
from chaos before the cold weather comes
on. A restaurant is doing rushing bust
ness. with the entire front of the building
not yet finished, while the thin November
ozone" playfully whisks bits of paper
around the coat tails of its patrons Bust
HCsS 10 fuSnlnS anu tNCIyDOuy Is DuSY.
1t is ready understood that there is big
demand for workmen of all kinds. Carpen.
tiers receive $2.75 to $500 per day, and
other work is paid for in proportion. Of
course, everybody is making money; IL
cant be otherwise where, with the bare
ground to begin with, everything must be
created from the raw material. The flu
ture prospects OF the town are excellent.
and greater growth can be expected next
year. The town is the present terminus
of tho freight and passenger service on the
railroad, and be sides, II Is 10 be tho head
quarters for building five or six hundred
miles OF new road next year. and machine
shops, storehOuses and division headquar-
tels are to be erected in the early spring,
and in addition, much repairing and other
work must be done. The company is
busy at work putting in several miles OF
side-track and making other arrangements
for an extensive business. But the chief
factor which assures its future, is, that il
Is the natural entrepot for the DeLace and
Mouse river valleys. and the exceedingly
fertile surrounding country, which is now
only partially occupied, and which will
be certain to be settled with the opening
Of another spring.-St Paul Pioneer Press.